Customer Reviews

Microsoft Project 2010 Step by Step (Step By Step (Microsoft))

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you are looking for a simple, easy way to teach yourself Project 2010 Step by Step by Carl Chatfield and Timothy Johnson is a good choice. Step by Step (SBS) is a series of textbooks published by Microsoft for learning the applications in the Microsoft Office Suite. The format is hands-on with brief explanations of concepts followed by step by step exercises demonstrating key tasks. Most students can work through the book and its exercises in about 2-3 days of solid study. Disciplined students often find a chapter-a-day to be a reasonably workable pace.

You can very effectively skip through the text taking a chapter at a time to learn specific tasks. However, don't plan on using the SBS series for reference book or quick how-to guide. In Project 2010 SBS you will cover the core skills needed for using Project as a standalone application but helps are sprinkled throughout on using Project Server. SBS assumes the reader is already comfortable with the computer and has some experience with the Microsoft Office 2007 or 2010 Ribbons.

Project 2010 SBS is a great book for learning the application and does contain many tips and tricks on the project management methodology. However, SBS is not a book on methodology. The brief appendix "Short Course in Project Management" is helpful but not a replacement for training and experience in project management. While the SBS series is best suited for individual study it can be used in the classroom in a pinch. I have used SBS series texts for several applications in classes but they are far from the best option. The price point of around $19.79 on Amazon is appealing for classrooms. The new appendix on using SBS in the classroom is unfortunately not at all helpful for an experienced instructor.

Disclaimer: As is common practice in book reviews I was given a free copy of Project 2010 SBS for review. This review was originally published on my blog at [...]

George Sawyer is Technology Coach & CEO of Sawyer Training & Technologies

Being in the software industry, I generally accept errors between content and associated practice files. But with this book, there are too many errors for me to ignore.

Everything was going great until I got to Chapter 9. There were some gross errors related to resource allocation that I brushed off; but then I got to Chapter 10. I am unable to perform any of the over-allocated resource tasks because the practice file is not even close to the chapter's content. It appears that the "Advance Plan_Start" file was published in the final state of the chapter vice the beginning. Therefore, all resource over-allocations have been resolved leaving the user with nothing to do.

Because of my frustration, I will have to continue with Chapter 11 later this week.

Without the correct practice file, I will not recommend this book for novice users. Advanced user will be able to apply knowledge from earlier version of Project to understand the concept of resource leveling, etc.

This is a solid introduction to Project 2010 with some overlap of material for SBS version 2007. There is some rehash of material from 2007 because of the functionality staying relatively similar or same in some cases. The screen shots are very helpful as you walk through this book.

There is some light coverage of Project Server and SharePoint but it's very light and not all that helpful. There is also an appendix on "Project Management 101" fundamentals of project management. I'm not sure why the authors feel this should be included; I guess they felt this could encourage less-experienced/aspiring project managers to buy this book and learn the tool. As a veteran PM, I did not find any benefit in this section.

Also, there is no longer a CD included as in the 2007 version, but you can get the PDF download and all the practice files from the publisher website.

All in all, a decent title and introduction to MS Project 2007. I will likely look for a more in-depth book/resource in the near future to supplement the information.

This book is easy to read, accurate, and has good examples. I have it on my desk at work. I have gotten through about half of it in detail, doing the practice examples as I go. I use it as a reference also.

Arrived ahead of time; quality of the product was great; provides the info necessary to become instantly productive on PM Project. Typical MS Project for Dummies book.

Good starter book. I bought the book because the more comprehensive ones were not coming out until October. Still will need the additional detail.

I purchased this book because I was put into a position where I needed to fill in for a Master Scheduler with my organization when the Scheduler was out on medical leave. I was able to become familiar with all of the new features of Project 2010 in a timely manner and successfully accomplish all short suspenses thrown my way. This book was a key to accomplishing tasks as they where assigned.

I was looking this kind of books.
Easy to read, with tips and practices. If you are working on project management this is a good start.

This textbook is used in my MS Project class and with a healthy back ground in the basics of project management, this text makes the software easy to learn and will be a great tool to use for future projects. Excellent text book!

This one of those books that actually gave its money's worth. It explain all the aspect of a complicated software easy and straight forward. Project 2010 has come a long way since the earliest release when a Project Management degree was as must in order to make sense of it. At the end of the book you can actually build a sophisticated schedule for any project, even if you had little or no experience with Microsoft Project.